Finder for cameras.



l. F. POLHEMUS.

FINDER FR CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI529. 191e.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

JOHN F. POLHEMUS, OF JOHNSON CITY, NEW

YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ANSCO COMPANY,

OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FINDER FOR CAMERAS.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

Application filed J' une 29, 1916. Serial N o. 106,581.

To all whom t may concern Be it konwn that I, JOHN F. PoLHEMUs, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Johnson City, county ofBroome, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Finders for Cameras, of which the following is aspecication.

The merits of the so-called rotating nders for photographic cameras, anexample of which is shown in the patent to Shanley, No. 916,205 datedMarch 23, 1909, and also those of the so-called folding finders, wherebythey are adapted to small folding hand cameras, an example of which isshown in the patent to Bornmann, No. 1,180,252 dated April 18, 1916, arefully appreciated by the photo-graphic public and are recognized asdesirable improvements; but there has'never heretofore been anyconstruction devised whereby both of these advantageous features couldbe availed of in the same camera.

It is the purpose, therefore, of this invention to so construct a finderand its asso ciated and co-acting parts that the advantages of therotating finder and also those of the folding finder may be combined inone and the same camera, thus making it possible to avail of theseimprovements in the necessarily compact. so-called pocket cameras, theuse of .which in recent years has been and still is rapidly increasing.

In order that the construction and method of operation embodied in thispresent invention may be more clearly understood and the forward stepbeyond that shown in the two prior patents above referred to moreeasilvappreciated, I refer to them for a more detailed exposition ofthat which they set forth than would be proper in this presentspeciication.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a sidewise elevation of a finderembodying this present invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1,showing the finder folded forwardly, thus reducing the space requiredfor it when the camera is collapsed; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional viewtaken through the middle of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevationand partlv in section, the finder having been tipped forwardly towardthe observer. as for the taking of a horizontal picture; Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3: Fig. 6 isa planView in detail of the top lens and co-acting parts.

In the drawings, 1 represents a bracket for the support of the finder.It may be of any preferred form and is usually attached to some suitablepart of the camera or lens frame.

2 is the lens mount for the finder, 3 the nder lens, 4 the front plateof the finder, 5 a thin washer, which I prefer to interpose between thebracket and the front plate. The front plate 4t rotates upon theexterior of the ring 6 (see below) as usual.

The lens mount may be made in any preferred manner. In the presentinstance, in addition to the outer threaded ring 2, it comprises a ring6, which is threaded to the ring 2 and has the usual confining ring 7. 8is a sectional gear or gear disk, which is rigidly held against thefront plate fby expanding outwardly the inner edge 9 of the ring 6.' Itwill be noted (see best Fig. 5) that the cogs 10 on the broken gear 8may extend part way around the same only.

11 is the back plate for the nder. It supports the usual mirror l2.

13, 13, are the side plates.

or observation plate 14 is the top plate in which the upper orobservation lens 15 is secured in any preferred manner, preferably bybeing held in an annular frame 16. The top plate 14 is hinged to theback plate 11, as at 17, at which hinge is a spring 18, which normallywhen the finder is in position for use draws the top plate downwardlyupon the upper edge of the front plate and similarly draws the top plateagainst the front of the finder when the latter is folded overforwardly, as in Fig. 2, thus causing it to assume and maintain properpositions in both cases. A similar hinge 19 connects the back plate 11to the lower part of the front plate or rather to flanges 20 formedthereon, one at each side. A spring 21 tends normally to throw the backplate and the parts supported by it backwardly or away from the lens 3.

On the lower edge of the annular frame 16. which supports the upper lens15, I form a face gear 22 (see Fig. 5), the teeth of which mesh with theteeth of the broken gear disk 8, and circumferentially about the frame16 I cut a groove 23 within which. on each side of the finder. tits awire or rod 24. these rods being rigid and one of them (see Fig. 6) hasprojecting ends 25, which serve to engage with thel horns 26 at theupper ends of the side flanges of the front plate to hold the parts inproper position, all as set forth in detail in said patent to Bornmann,No. The purpose of the annular groove 23 and the rods 24 fitting inthem, one at each side of the frame 16, is so that when the finder istilted from the vertical to the horizontal position and the cogs orteeth on the gear disk 8 engage in those of the face gear 22, the frame16 bearing the upper or phragm plate 2.7, may be given a quarterrotation, thus transferring the openior observation space of thediaphragm from the vertical to a horizontal position.

The diaphragm plate may be applied over the upper lens 15 in anypreferred manner. I show it in the form of a anged structure held inplace by screws 28, 28, because if made in this form it Will serve alsoas a confiner for the upper lens 15, and 'thus full dual functions. l

0n the forward ,edge of the top plate, l provide a small fiat spring 29,held in position by screws 30. This spring is provided at or near itscenter with a small stud or pin 31, which passing through a hole in theforward edge of the top plate, engages in suitable recesses 32,' 32,(see best Fig. i) made in the edge of the annular frame 16, whichsupports the upper lens. The purpose of this device is to 'act as a stopto determine when the upper len's and its diaphragm have attained properpositions for turn and in so dolng a vertical or horizontal exposure, asthe case may be.

From what has already been said, the operation is obvious. During themaking of a vertical exposure the parts should be in the position shownin Figs. 1 and 2. When it is desired to take a horizontal picture, theoperator taking hold of the finder, turns it through a quarter circle,in so doing the teeth on the gear disk 8 engaging with the teeth on theunder edge of the u per lens 'frame 16 cause that lens frame an the lensand diaphragm carried by it to rotate equally, that is to say, to make aquarter the little projection 31 on the fiat spring 29 will pass out ofthe depression 32 in the annular lens frame 16, in

which 1t rested when the parts are in position for vertical exposure,and the annular frame 16. Will rotate upon the rods 24 and when the lensframe 16 has completed its quarter rotation, into the second depression32 in the lens frame and thus act as an indicator or stop to indicatethat the diaphragm is in position for a horizontal exposure.

It Will be particularly noted that the addition to the structure of theparts which assure the proper positions of the diaphrl observation lens15 and the diathe little stop 31 will pass in the two positions of thefinder in no Wise interfere with the folding feature set forth in saidBornmann patent, on the contrary, all parts operate and function in thispresent construction precisely as they do in the said Bornmannconstruction and secure the beneficial results flowing therefrom.Special attention is called, however, to the fact, that the little stud31 co-acting with its supporting spring 29 and engaging in recesses 32made in the annular lens frame 16, will assure the rotation of thatframe to proper position for rengagement between the two gears describedwhen the finder is again unfolded or tipped backwardly into operativeposition, after being tipped forwardly during the folding of the camera.

It 'will be obvious to those who are familiar with such matters thatmodications may be made in the details of construction and yet theessentials of my invention be retained. I therefore do not limit myselfto such details.

l claim:

l. A finder having a rotary front plate, aback plate pivoted to thefront plate, a top plate, pivoted to the back plate, means to detachablyhold said pivoted parts in dual positions, a stationary gear on or nearthe front plate, a diaphragm rotatably supported upon the top plate, anda gear connected with the diaphragm supporting structure adapted torotate With it and which meshes into the stationary gear on the frontplate.

2. A finder having a rotary front plate, a back plate pivoted to thefront plate, a top plate pivoted to the back plate, means to detachablyhold said pivoted parts in dual positions, a stationary gear on or nearthe front plate, a diaphragm rotatably supported upon the top plate, agear connected with the diaphragm supporting structure adapted to rotatewith it and which meshes into the stationary gear on the front plate,and a stop which automatically indicates the limit of the movements ofthe diaphragm.

3. A finder having a rotary front plate, a back plate pivoted to thefront plate, a top plate pivoted to the back. plate, aspring at each ofsaid pivotal points which normally tend to throw the finder open, meanson the front plate engaging means on the top plate to detachably holdthe said pivoted parts against the stress of said springs, a stationarygear on or near the front plate, a diaphragm rotatably supported uponthe top plate, and a gear connected with the diaphragm supportingstructure and adapted to rotate with it and which meshes into thestationary gear at the front plate.

4. A finder having a rotary front plate, a back plate pivoted to thefront plate, a top plate pivoted to the back plate, means to detachablyhold said pivoted parts in dual positions,

a stationary gear on or near the front plate, a diaphragm supportingframe,`means on said be supported and cont and a gear frame adapted tovrota meshes into the statio plate. l

connected back plate pivoted to the frame whereby it will rolled duringrotation with the diaphra te with it and whloh nary gear at the frontvfront plate, a

front plate, a top plate pivoted to the back plate, means to detachablyto the fron hold said pivoted t plate, a stationa parts relative ry gearon or near the front ing frame, agear connected with the diaf phragmsupporting frame adapted to rotate with. it and Whichv meshes with thesta tionary gear at the front plate, an annular groove in the diaphragmsupporting frame, and a4 pair of rods supported upon the top plate whichengage nsaid groove at oppote sides of the diaphragm `supporting ame.

In testimony whereof name to this specification.

JOHN F. POLHEMUS.

I have signed my plate, a diaphragm support- I

